Belichick, Branch downplay idea of passing along Patriots’ secrets

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 8, 2014, 6:20 PM EST

AP

When the Colts signed former Patriots receiver Deion Branch this week, just days before a playoff game against the Patriots, it raised some questions about whether the plan in Indianapolis was to get some intel about the goings-on in New England.

But Branch doesn’t think he has any particularly useful information to hand over to the Colts’ coaching staff.

Branch told reporters today that if the Colts know what the Patriots are doing, it’s from scouting the Patriots’ game tape, not from any special insight that Branch can provide.

This is the NFL. I’m sure the scouts . . . they knew all the ins-and-outs about the Patriots before they thought of bringing me [here],” Branch said.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said he doesn’t lose any sleep when preparing to face a former Patriot.

“I think that’s way overrated,” Belichick said. “And a lot of times the information in those situations is sometimes misinformation because things have changed from whenever that person was [there]. I’m not saying that in any particular circumstance, I’m just saying in general. A lot of times you, a player has been with another team, saying that this is what they do, this is their call and this is this, this is that. That’s not really what it is.”

So if Branch is going to help the Colts beat the Patriots, it’s going to be on the field on Saturday, not in the meeting rooms during the week.

BB could tell the Colts exactly what he plans to do and there’s not much the Colts could do about it.

azarkhan says:Jan 8, 2014 7:28 PM

I love Deion Branch; he was a great player for the Patriots. He’s a class act, a very humble and modest player. I can still see him in an AFC Championship game running a reverse and waving at the Steeler secondary as he scored.

blackandbluedivision says:Jan 8, 2014 7:59 PM

They aren’t the Bears (using the same defensive signals as the year before) and Israel Idonije.

Lets face it, Deion’s just an emergency body to throw out there if the Colts have a rash of receiver injuries. It’s not like he’s going to play over guys like Whalen, Rogers and Brazill who have been practicing in their offense all season.